Serve (tennis)

A serve (or, more formally, a service) in tennis is a shot to start a point. The serve is initiated by tossing the ball into the air and hitting it (usually near the apex of its trajectory) into the diagonally opposite service box without touching the net.

Serve terminology

• Ace – a good serve (not a fault) that is untouched by the opponent
• Big serve – a forceful serve, usually giving an advantage in the point for the server
• Break – losing the game when serving
• Break point – one point away from a break
• Double fault – two faults in a row in one point, causing to lose the point
• Fault – an unsuccesful serve that does not start the point, because of not hitting the ball into the designated box.
• Foot fault – a fault caused by the server stepping into the tennis court
• Hold – winning the game when serving
• Let – when the ball touches the net but still goes in, the serve is replayed